ROME 
Italian premier Mario Monti and French leader Francois Hollande are meeting in Rome to discuss measures to help safeguard the euro currency in what is seen as critical week for Europe.

It is their third meeting since Hollande took office three months ago. Over the past few months, Monti and Hollande have been leading a pro-growth lobby within the 17-country group that uses the euro. Pro-austerity Germany has been coming under increasing pressure to allow countries more leeway to boost economic growth and put the eurozone back on a more secure financial footing.

The meeting between the two leaders comes the European Central Bank is expected on Thursday to come up with measures to support countries most at risk in the ongoing debt crisis by buying up bonds.